Beside You

The smile faded from Xu Wei's lips as Li Nuxie vanished from his sight. He clenched his jaw, coldness flashed in his eyes.

A man wearing eyeglasses went to his side and bowed.

"Did you catch him?" his voice sent shivers to the man's spine.

"Yes, boss, " he said, gulping. "But the camera was gone," the man squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the tornado to wreck havoc.

Xu Wei curled his lips, his eyes narrowing into slits. "How incompetent your men are?"

The man remained silent. No amount of explanation will satisfy his boss.

"You know what to do," Xu Wei said after a while.

"Yes, boss!"

Xu Wei pulled his mobile phone from his pocket while walking towards the main road. Putting the phone near his ear, he listened to Bruno Mars' Treasure.

He shook his head as he waited for Bruno Mars to stop singing.

He blew air when it stopped playing.

"Big bro, what's up?"

"Someone took my picture," Xu Wei started.

Laughter assaulted his ears from the other side of the phone. He pressed his lips into a thin line.

As if Xu Ming sensed the change in his elder brother, he closed his mouth. "Big bro, you've been subjected to invasion of privacy more than once. So what's the big deal?"

He remembered when a paparazzi climbed over the glass wall at Octagon Hotel under the guise of a window cleaner. The paparazzi took pictures of Xu Wei in his birth suit.

The paparazzi was caught. The pictures were retrieved so Xu Wei didn't press charges. After all, it would be embarrassing to bring to court the fact that the First Young Master of Xu Family was pictured naked as the day he was born.

However, three days after the incident, that person lost his job. His extramarital affair was aired in the public and his wife divorced him.

"Li Nuxie was with me," Xu Wei informed his brother.

Xu Ming slapped his forehead. "That's trouble."

"Monitor the media closely. If you can't prevent it from leaking, at least make sure that Li Nuxie's identity remains a secret," Xu Wei pulled the door of his car open, lowering himself inside.

Xu Ming nodded. "Leave it to me, big bro."

Xu Wei hanged up as he started the engine. He still needed to get ready for his date tonight.

Meanwhile, in Xu Group, the Second Young Master Xu pushed the door of the most restricted room. A visitor can enter the executive room of the CEO, but this room, only the Xu Family members and a few others knew its existence.

"Guys," Xu Ming clapped his hands, calling the attention of the four people inside. "We have work to do," he said, occupying the seat at the head of the table.

A woman wearing a black power suit arched an eyebrow. "Oh?" Their last 'job' happened three years ago, when the Xu Group's heir was photographed naked.

Xu Ming nodded. "Yes, you've got it right."

"What is it?" A man with spike hair rubbed his hands. Finally, they can do something exciting aside from sorting out papers.

Xu Ming's eyes roamed around the room. The four people inside were members of his personal team. The group was in charge of deflecting the dirty works directed against the First Young Master Xu.

"Protect the identity of the Future Young Madam Xu," he said, dropping the bomb.

No one spoke for the next minute.

"Uhm, I think I need a hearing aid," a man in his twenties voiced out.

Xu Ming shook his head before standing up from the seat. "Do your job well. There will be a hell to pay for if you mess up," he said.

The man with a spike hair made a salute. "No need to tell us. As if we want to face the wrath of the Black Emperor."

The three others expressed their agreement by nodding.

=0=

Li Nuxie wore a black dress decorated with small pearls. She paired it with black stilettos that made her look taller.

Hong Chi and Li Chanying already went to the venue to greet the guests, hence she will be coming alone.

She chose simple ensemble because there's no need to draw attention for herself tonight. What she wanted was to further cement NU C's status in the fashion industry to the point that even an earthquake will not be able to shake it.

She was still wearing her eyeglasses. Truth was, she cannot wear contacts all by herself. She needed someone to put it on her eyes.

Grabbing her purse, she headed towards the door, praying that the traffic was manageable.

Li Nuxie reached the university when the sky was turning pink. The university provided a great view of the pinkish skies. It was a waste that she didn't bring her camera. It would be a good source of inspiration for her next paintings.

After parking the car, she headed towards the venue. She looked around, making sure no one was following her.

The university was pretty much deserted as it was in the past three days.

The Lover's Lane which was just ahead, was still deserted. However, the pavement was already cleared of dried leaves, it can even pass for a catwalk.

"Hello, Xiexie."

Li Nuxie closed her eyes, thinking if she cleaned her ears. Why was she hearing some things now?

She took a deep breath. "Li Nuxie, stop hallucinating."

A laugh brought her back to her senses. She turned her head sharply on the side. Her eyes went round as her sight took his profile in. He was wearing a white suit which suited his physique. He looked like a model straight from the runway.

"Mr. Wei, I -"

"I am not Mr. Wei. I am Xu Wei," he said, correcting her.

Li Nuxie rolled her eyes. "Okay fine, Mr. Xu Wei. Why don't you stop behaving like a mushroom? You always pop out at unexpected times and places," irritation was oozing in Li Nuxie's words.

Xu Wei raised an eyebrow. Although he had been stalking her, he really didn't do it now. It was fate. "As far as I am concerned, this is the only way going to the venue. So how come I am popping out at unexpected times and places?"

Li Nuxie gulped. Well, he was right. Just because they have some interactions, it doesn't mean that he thought of her.

The irritation Li Nuxie has felt a while ago completely dissipated. She was behaving as if she was entitled.

"I'm sorry," she lowered her head.

Tenderness flashed on Xu Wei's eyes. She looked brave yet vulnerable at the moment.

"No need to say sorry. It was just a normal conversation."

Li Nuxie gave him a forced smile.

"If we don't hurry, we might lose the best seats," Xu Wei said.

"Excuse me? "

Xu Wei chuckled. "The launching will start at seven, right?"

A thin line appeared at Li Nuxie's forehead. "You're attending?" How come she didn't know?

Xu Wei's raised the corner of his lips. "My date invited me to escort her tonight."

Li Nuxie went in daze when Xu Wei smiled. Damn, it was enough for her hormones to go ballistic. But the 'date' echoed in her mind. She snapped back on reality.

"Oh. That's nice. It's a good thing your 'date' likes NU C," she said, somehow sulking. Oh wait, why was she sulking? He was not her boyfriend. Of course, he can date all he want.

Xu Wei smiled inwardly. Was his woman jealous? She looked cute when she does.

"Then, let's get moving."

Li Nuxie didn't answer. She took a step towards the Lover's Lane when she remembered that Xu Wei was walking beside her.

She stopped abruptly. "Can you walk first?"

Xu Wei also stopped walking. "Why?"

Li Nuxie shrugged. "No reason. I just want to."

Xu Wei's eyes bored into hers. It seemed to suck her in, just like every damn time she looked at him.

"A woman's place is not in front nor back. Her place should be beside her man. Because a relationship should be equal."

Li Nuxie glared at him. "I am not in a relationship with you."

"Do you want to?"

"T-That's -" she closed her mouth. "How did we talk about relationships? We're just talking of walking side by side a while ago!" she said indignantly.

It was Xu Wei's turn to raised his shoulders. "Then, let's walk now."

Li Nuxie pressed her lips together but then started walking. She was oblivious to the fact that she just fell to a certain man's trap.

The two of them walked side by side. No words had been said. Just the two of them, under the trees that covered the Lover's Lane.

When they reach the end of the lane, Xu Wei smirked. Mission accomplished, he thought smugly.